May 2026 was a little warmer and drier than average. The average temperature was 56.3 degrees, about 1.9 degrees above average. Rain totaled 0.68 inches for the month, nearly a half of an inch below average. No snow fell during the month.

A large percentage of the rain for the month fell on May 1st, but amounts varied quite a bit, from about a third of an inch in the northern parts of the valley to an inch or more in the far southwest sections. A few more showers occurred on the 6th and on the 25th to the 28th, but amounts were quite small, so that by the end of the month, it was quite dry around the area. Total rainfall for May varied from 0.40 to 0.75 inches across the north, to about 0.75 to 1.25 inches across the south (see rainfall map below).

The month started out cool and wet at times during the first week, with highs in the mid 50s to upper 60s. It then gradually warmed up and dried out through the middle two weeks of the month, with highs in the 70s to mid 80s. More clouds and some light showers on the 25th to the 28th brought highs back down into the 60s to mid 70s. The last few days of the month saw readings climb into the mid 70s to low 80s.

The warmest high was 86 degrees on the 12th, while the coldest high was 56 degrees on the 1st. The coldest low was 23 degrees on the 7th, while the warmest low was 52 degrees on the 13th, a record warm low for the date.

Overall, wind speeds for the month were a tad below average, but there were still 16 days with peak wind gusts of 35 mph or higher. Strongest overall winds occurred on the 13th and on the 18th to 20th, with the highest gust of 53 mph measured on the 28th in an evening thunderstorm.

Here are the actual numbers for the month at my location…

Average Temp . . . . 56.3 degrees, +1.9 degrees above average

Average High . . . . . 73.5 degrees, +2.4 degrees above average

Average Low. . . . . . 39.2 degrees, +1.4 degrees above average

Total Pcpn . . . . . . . 0.68 inches, -0.47 inches below average

Total Snow . . . . . . . 0.0 inches, -1.0 inches below average

May 2026 rainfall totals (from rain gauges)

MAY 2026 DAILY DATA for 4 NNW Taos

DATE	HIGH	LOW	DAILY DEP.	MON. DEP.	PCPN	SNOW	REMARK
1	56	26	-8.4	-8.4	0.32″
2	62	30	-3.4	-5.9
3	69	33	+1.0	-3.6
4	68	44	+4.7	-1.5
5	60	42	-1.0	-1.4	T
6	58	30	-7.8	-2.5	0.18″		1/8-1/4″ hail 304-313 PM
7	68	23	-6.6	-3.1
8	75	31	+0.8	-2.6
9	79	38	+6.1	-1.6
10	74	41	+5.0	-1.0
11	79	34	+4.0	-0.5
12	86	39	+9.7	+0.3
13	84	52*	+14.5	+1.4	T		*Record warm low
14	81	46	+9.4	+2.0
15	82	39	+5.9	+2.3
16	81	41	+6.4	+2.5
17	75	45	+5.2	+2.7
18	71	44	+1.9	+2.6
19	71	37	-1.6	+2.4	T
20	71	45	+2.5	+2.4
21	75	36	-0.6	+2.3
22	77	34	-0.5	+2.1
23	78	39	+2.4	+2.2
24	80	41	+4.3	+2.2	T
25	71	47	+2.3	+2.2	0.08″
26	61	46	-3.8	+2.0	0.02″
27	75	45	+2.4	+2.0	T
28	79	41	+2.1	+2.0	0.08″
29	78	51	+6.4	+2.2
30	73	39	-2.6	+2.0
31	80	35	-1.1	+1.9
AVGS/ TOTAL	73.5	39.2	56.3	+1.9	0.68″

DAILY DEP. – Departure from the long term daily average temperature

MON. DEP. – Cumulative departure from the long term monthly average temperature

PCPN – Precipitation

T – Trace of precipitation

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